While writing a trainee accountant CV might sound taxing, it couldn’t be easier with help from myPerfectCV. We’ve pulled together some of the best trainee accountant CV examples, templates, and sought-after skills to guide your application and help you secure that crucial first step in your career.

It doesn’t matter that your skills lie more in numbers than words. We’ll guide you through the process with examples along the way. That’s topped off with answers to frequently asked questions and even some dos and don’ts to keep you on the right track.

Keep reading or scroll down to the section you need help with:

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    Sample trainee accountant CV

     Trainee accountant CV Sample

    Niamh Knight

    18 Old Street
    Bradford BD1 5TG
    987654321
    niamh.knight@example.co.uk

    Professional summary

    Focused Accountant with excellent communication, literacy and numeracy skills offers experience in corporate and personal accounting support. Prepared books with precise, up-to-date information for compliant, accurate financial appraisals. Plans and prioritises well to meet deadlines in pressured conditions.

    Work history

    Accountant Assistant, January 2024 – Current
    We Count – Bradford

    • Monitored accounts payable and receivable statuses, keeping financial records up-to-date.
    • Managed payroll by tracking employee hours and entitlements.
    • Prepared client billing under guidance from billing manager.
    • Assisted in preparing monthly, quarterly and year-end tax returns.

    Accounting Assistant (Part-time), February 2022 – January 2023
    TaxU – Bradford

    • Compiled reports on sales, expenditure and marketing for senior management.
    • Organised budget documentation and tracked expenses to maintain tight business controls.
    • Entered transactions into internal databases.
    • Verified items billed against items received, following up with vendors to reconcile variances.

    Skills

    Advanced knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint
    Analytically driven
    Accounting
    Problem-solving
    Payroll administration
    Account reconciliation
    Budget forecasting
    AR/AP expertise
    Expense reports
    SAP

    Education

    2023, University of Bradford Bradford
    Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance

    Certifications

    Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Level 2 Certificate in Accounting (optional)

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    Trainee accountant CV template

    When you’re writing a trainee accountant CV, you want to put all your time and effort into the content. CV templates can give you a head start in this respect with the perfect layout, structure, and design, so you can get started on the all-important skills, qualifications, and trainee accountant duties and responsibilities. Above all else, a template will make sure your CV looks the part and shows your professionalism.

    Choosing the right format for your trainee accountant CV

    Before we cover the “how”, it’s important to consider the “what”. In other words, what exactly does a CV look like and include, before you move on to how you’re going to write it?

    The answer lies in CV formats, which are different ways of presenting your skills, experience, and education. It’s important to make the right choice, as each focuses on different areas of your background.

    As a trainee accountant, there are two options to consider. First is the skills-based CV, which has a large section for skills where work experience would normally sit. It’s ideal for those without any (or very little) experience, as it shifts the focus to what you do offer, rather than what you don’t.

    On the other hand, there’s the reverse-chronological CV. This is the most popular CV format, and one all recruiters will be familiar with. It’s definitely the best option if you have one or more previous positions in accounting to talk about.

    Whichever format you choose, there are a few simple rules that will keep your CV on point:

    • Use headings and bullet points to avoid length sections of text.
    • Keep your CV to one or two pages – you can use font size and line spacing to avoid it being somewhere in between.
    • Choose a simple, professional font like Calibri, Times New Roman, or Arial.
    • Download and send your CV as a PDF or Word document, unless another format is specified.

    Choose your format now

    How to write a CV for a trainee accountant

    Onto the central question – how to write a CV for a trainee accountant. The best advice is to take it step by step with each section of your CV. You don’t have to go from top to bottom – many people like to start with work history first.

    Below, we’ll run through the sections to include and how to write them:

    Adding contact details to your trainee accountant CV

    You might think it’s enough to add your phone number when you send your CV, or assume that sending it by email means they will reply by the same method. However, it never hurts to include contact details on your CV too. Doing so gives recruiters what they need in the easiest way possible.

    You should include multiple options so they can contact you however they please. Some employers prefer phoning, others will do their business by email. Whatever their preference, you don’t want to miss out:

    • Start with your name
    • Add your address with the postcode. They may want to send an application form, or they might just want to know where you’re based.
    • Include your phone number – ideally a mobile so you can always be reached.
    • Finally, list your email address. Make sure it’s work-appropriate, rather than including nicknames or anything else unprofessional.

    Example of contact section for a trainee accountant CV

    James Brown
    6 Victory Way,
    Edinburgh, EH2 9UH
    07912345678
    brown.j@example.co.uk

    Trainee accountant CV personal statement

    As the first section of any UK CV, the personal statement is vital in giving recruiters a good first impression of you as a candidate, and aligning you with the job at hand.

    In three to four sentences, you should highlight your experience or qualifications, one or two key qualities that define you as a trainee accountant, and what you can offer to a prospective employer.

    Most applicants use the first sentence to highlight their experience. You may also want to add a defining quality like “hard-working” or “ambitious”.

    Next, expand on your experience with some key competencies – what you do well in your current role. It’s a good idea to add in statistics, such as the number of clients you’ve assisted or a specific reduction in expenditure you were able to achieve.

    Finally, top it off with some unique skills that set you apart. That could be your ability to learn new things quickly, an aptitude for software, or just your great interpersonal skills and team-player attitude.

    Here are some extra tips for your personal statement:

    • Use the third person to come across as more professional.
    • Keep it positive and punchy, setting the tone for the rest of your CV.
    • Stick to a limit of around 100 words, so recruiters can read on to find out more.
    • Take a look at some CV examples to see how it’s done…

    Example of personal statement for a trainee accountant CV

    Focused Trainee Accountant offering 5 years of accounting experience to bring value to an Accounting Assistant role. Eager to leverage demonstrated success in AP/AR management and collections. Willing and able to go above and beyond to meet team objectives and foster company growth.

    OR

    Diligent trainee accountant with two years’ experience from accounting placements. Excels in data entry, record keeping, and analysis to keep client accounts in order. Offers great attention to detail, exemplary numerical ability, and accounting software skills.

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    How to present your work history on a trainee accountant CV

    Even as a trainee, recruiters will want to see work experience on your CV. That could be directly relevant experience like an accounting placement, or just a position with transferable skills like an admin assistant or cashier. Whatever experience you have, it’s still worth including to show that you’re used to putting the hours in.

    In most cases, work history will be the longest section of your CV. That’s because it’s so important to potential employers. It will start with your current or most recent job, then work backwards through time, so the most relevant information comes first.

    For each role, list the following:

    • Job title, employer, and location
    • Start and end dates
    • 3-6 responsibilities or achievements

    While the first points are easy boxes to tick off, you might find it hard picking out responsibilities to list. Remember that these should define your time in that job. Don’t list basic tasks like filing, photocopying, and making calls. Instead, try to cherry pick the most impressive duties you completed.

    Another tip is to mix things up. You don’t want to repeat duties across different jobs. If you’ve covered data entry in one job, why not focus on bookkeeping and account reconciliation in another. You can read the job description to get a better idea of which responsibilities to list.

    Last but not least, choose the right words to describe your duties. Starting each point with a verb can create a dynamic tone for your work history section. Think “managed”, “assessed”, and “calculated” rather than continually writing “responsible for”.

    Example of work experience for a trainee accountant CV

    TRAINEE ACCOUNTANT
    01/2023 to Current
    McBridge Financial Services, Edinburgh

    • Reconciled all company accounts, including credit cards, employee expenses and commissions.
    • Completed financial reports to inform managers and stakeholders.
    • Reviewed GL entries and assessed accuracy.
    • Balanced reports to submit for approval and verification.
    • Maintained accurate and complete documentation for all financial department procedures.
    • Monitored status of accounts receivable and payable to facilitate efficient processing.

    JUNIOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANT
    09/2020 to 12/2023
    Smith and Jones Finance, Edinburgh

    • Supported Finance Officer in improving operations and resolving issues to deliver top-notch customer service.
    • Researched and updated all required materials needed for firm and partners.
    • Performed initial client assessment and analysis to begin the research process.
    • Maintained smooth operations of accounts through effective and efficient monitoring.
    • Ensured adherence to FCA regulations for continued company compliance.

    Trainee accountant CV skills

    Your CV skills section is vital when applying for trainee accountant roles. Recruiters will usually have an ideal candidate in mind, with certain capabilities and qualities. They might also use ATS software, which rules out CVs which don’t include certain keywords.

    As such, it’s important to include a combination of hard and soft skills in this section. Hard skills are technical capabilities that trainee accountants will have learnt, or be learning. These include bookkeeping, data analysis, and financial reporting.

    On the other hand, soft skills are transferable skills or qualities that you have as a person. They can lend themselves perfectly to accounting roles, such as “attention to detail” and “problem solving”, but they may be equally helpful in plenty of other jobs too.

    Pairing both together in this section allows you to present yourself as well balanced. You can show that you’ve got the basic accounting skills for a trainee job, while also demonstrating that you’re a good fit for their company in terms of your personal attributes.

    We recommend adding around 8-12 skills in total, which can be presented in a bullet point list. There are a number of skills that go hand in hand with trainee accountant duties and responsibilities:

    Essential skills for your CV

    • Numerical aptitude
    • Analytical ability
    • Attention to detail
    • Time management
    • Computer literate
    • Well-organised

    Added extras to set you apart

    • Accounting experience
    • Report writing
    • Project management
    • Familiar with accounting software
    • Industry knowledge
    • Clear communication

    Outlining education on a trainee accountant CV

    Education is important for so many jobs – and trainee accountant is certainly no exception. While you might still be a trainee, you’ll need to show that you have the raw skills to become an accountant in time.

    Most trainee accountancy roles will work towards a qualification like ACCA or CIMA, but you’ll usually need a relevant degree to gain entry to those jobs. This could be mathematics, accounting, finance, or any business-related degree.

    It’s also a good idea to include previous education like A-levels to demonstrate a mathematical or analytical background. That said, you don’t have to delve too deep into your education history – GCSEs can be summarised concisely rather than listing every subject, or you may choose to omit them altogether.

    When listing your education, you’ll need to include the level of qualification, course title, university or college, and the date of qualification. You can include grades if they’re particularly impressive, but don’t feel the need to list every little detail if it doesn’t add to your application.

    Example of education for a trainee accountant CV

    Bachelor of Science: Business Operations, 06/2023
    University of Edinburgh – Edinburgh

    A-Levels: Business, Economics, History, 08/2020
    Long Road Secondary School – Glasgow

    Dos and don’ts for your trainee accountant CV

    If you want your trainee accountant CV to become one of your biggest assets, take a look at our CV writing advice below.

    Do

    • DO base your CV on trainee accountant roles

      It goes without saying that your CV will be targeted as roles for trainee accountants. However, by checking trainee accountant job description responsibilities, you can tailor your application to specific openings and their criteria. Firstly, this will delight recruiters by giving them exactly what they’re looking for. It could also help you pass checks with ATS software, which is used to scan CVs for keywords.

    • DO crunch the numbers

      As an aspiring accountant, numbers are no doubt your forte. They can also be the strong point of your CV. Wherever possible, use figures and statistics to back up your experience. That might be dealing with 15 clients in an accounting internship or increasing productivity by 10% in another previous role like sales or admin – it doesn’t have to be directly relevant to accounting.

    Don’t

    • DON’T focus solely on accounting

      Continuing from the point above, not all of your skills and experience will be directly related to trainee accountant duties and responsibilities. Chances are, you’ll be fresh out of university and applying for your first role in accounting. However, you can still make your CV attractive recruiters by picking out transferable skills from your studies or previous roles. Think teamwork, communication, computer literacy, and numerical aptitude.

    • DON’T forget your cover letter

      Cover letters introduce you as a candidate with an overview of your background. They allow you to expand on your qualifications in a way that your CV won’t. With that in mind, a trainee accountant cover letter can be critical. Be sure to show your enthusiasm for the role and the accounting world more broadly, and highlight how your academic pursuits have prepared you for a trainee accounting role

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    Top FAQs about your trainee accountant CV

    How do I write a CV for a trainee accountant?

    The easiest way to write a trainee accountant CV is by tailoring your own personal qualities, capabilities, and experience to trainee accountant job description responsibilities. In short, you want your skills section, work history, and personal statement to show that you’re a perfect fit for the role.

    What does a trainee accountant do?

    While trainee accountant duties and responsibilities vary from role to role, they’re generally related to preparing and auditing accounts under the responsibility of a senior accountant or audit manager. You can expect to assist with managing invoices, checking data for accuracy, and compiling financial reports alongside general administrative duties. You’ll also work towards an accounting certification such as ACCA or CIMA.

    What should an accounting CV include?

    CVs for trainee accountant jobs can be broken down into the following sections:

    • Personal statement – introducing your top qualities, skills, and experiences in relation to the role you’re applying for.
    • Work history – a brief summary of your previous roles, using bullet points to list the main responsibilities.
    • Key skills – listing a mixture of 8-12 hard and soft skills.
    • Education – include your degree in finance, accounting, or mathematics along with any other relevant qualifications.

    How much does a trainee accountant earn?

    The starting trainee accountant salary for most roles is between £19,000 and £23,000. That’s typically higher in city-centre locations, especially London. You can also expect the salary to rise significantly once you achieve chartered accountant status.

    How to become a trainee accountant

    The vast majority of trainee accountant jobs require a relevant bachelor’s degree as a minimum. This includes accounting, finance, and mathematics. In some cases, companies will support you through your degree with funding if you have relevant work experience before applying for university. There are also some degree programmes which include work placements and ACCA qualification to fast-track your progression.

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    Be audit you can be with a great trainee accountant CV

    Whether you’re looking for a solid trainee accountant CV sample or the best tips and tricks to set your application apart, you’ll find it right here at myPerfectCV. All that’s missing is your own CV to send to recruiters and secure those interviews. That’s where our brilliant CV builder comes into play. Complete with professional CV templates and pre-written content for trainee accountant roles, it has everything you need to take the first step in your career.

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